note: because China's exchange rate is determine by fiat, rather than by market forces, the official exchange rate measure of GDP is not an accurate measure of China's output; GDP at the official exchange rate substantially understates the actual level of China's output vis-a-vis the rest of the world; in China's situation, GDP at purchasing power parity provides the best measure for comparing output across countries (2010 est.)

note: 21.5 million rural population live below the official "absolute poverty" line (approximately $90 per year); an additional 35.5 million rural population live above that level but below the official "low income" line (approximately $125 per year) (2007)

Press

China in the News

The tremendous efforts mainland China made to successfully host the Beijing Olympics in the spirit of fairness and peaceful athletic competition among people of all races and ethnicities have deeply impressed the world. It is this same spirit that animated the founding of the United Nations, as reflected in the principles enunciated in the UN Charter.

The symphony of South-South cooperation at the recent conclave of foreign ministers of BRIC was jarred by China's refusal to endorse India's bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.